Agenda item
Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children's Board Annual Report 2008/9, Business Plan 2007/10, Summary of Lord Laming's report and outcome of Serious Case Review Evaluations (CAB 142/089)
Decision:
Resolved:
1. That the contents of the Tower Hamlets Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) annual report and business plan and outcomes arising from LSCB ‘stocktake’, be noted;
2. That the summary of Lord Laming’s report be noted;
3. That the appointment of an independent chair of the LSCB be agreed;
4. That it be noted that the appointment, referred to in resolution 3 above, will be made by the Director of Children’s Services after consultation with the Authority’s Board partners;
5. That it be agreed that the Authority should support appointment of an independent chair by the LSCB for any future serious case reviews;
6. That it be noted that a further report will be provided in relation to the full implementation of any changes arising from Government’s response to Lord Laming’s report. This will include proposals to support elected councillors in developing a greater understanding of the issues relating to safeguarding and their role and responsibilities in this area; and
7. That the outcome of the Ofsted evaluations of Serious Case Reviews undertaken in 2007/08, be noted;
Action by:
CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (K. COLLINS)
Service Head, Children’s Social Care, Children’s Services (K. Rambellas)
Minutes:
Mr Collins, Corporate Director Children’s Services, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report, summarised the salient points contained therein as follows:
· The Tower Hamlets Local Safeguarding Children’s Board had been established in 2006 in response to legislation. As a result of its partnership approach to safeguarding children in Tower Hamlets, there had been full engagement with all stakeholders and the Board was considered to be a leader amongst the boards of London boroughs.
· The Board had last reported to Cabinet in 2007 and the associated business plan had been adhered to. The paper before the Cabinet contained a further annual report and business plan for consideration and approval. The recommended work plan had been the subject of wide ranging consultation and agreement with all appropriate partners and agencies.
· The report particularly focused on the implications for Tower Hamlets of the Baby P case, the recent report of Lord Laming following a further review of safeguarding arrangements, and the 4 serious case reviews undertaken by the Board since April 2007.
· The report also captured learning from the recent Joint Area Review and Corporate Area Assessment.
· The report recommended the appointment of an independent chair of the Board, chaired to date by Mr Collins, and also endorsement of the proposal that the Board should appoint an independent chair of any future serious case reviews. Although Lord Laming had been ambivalent in his recommendations in this regard, Mr Collins considered this approach to be sensible.
· A further report would contain proposals for supporting the training of Councillors in understanding both safeguarding issues and their associated role and responsibilities. He considered this key to management of the Authority’s reputation in the community.
· The proposals contained in the report would build on the Authority’s existing strong position on safeguarding children.
Councillor Hawkins, Lead Member Children’s Services:_
· Commented that safeguarding children was a fundamental duty of the authority.
· Paid tribute to the dedication, hard work, commitment of child social workers, and all involved in such social work: including the voluntary sector organisations and professional agencies such as the Metropolitan Police.
· Welcomed the stock take of Tower Hamlets Local Safeguarding Children’s Board arrangements.
· Stated her support for the proposed independent chair of the Board and also of independent chairs appointed by the board for any serious case review.
· Formally thanked Mr Collins, Corporate Director Children’s Services, and Ms Rambellas, former Service Head Children’s Social Care, for their contribution to the Board’s activities, and also the review into safeguarding arrangements; commenting that solid judgements had resulted in the strong position of the Authority to date in this area.
· Emphasised the importance of continued partner working in this area.
· Stated her support for the training of Councillors in safeguarding in order that such work could be properly scrutinised and robustly challenged.
· Commended the proposals contained in the report to members of the Cabinet.
A discussion followed during which the proposals contained in the report were welcomed, and which focused on the following points:-
· What provision existed for the continued review and refreshing of policy in this area and in particular that relating to support of families, where orthodoxy appeared to ebb and flow.
· Consideration that there were positives and negatives in the amalgamation of children’s Education and Social Services in response to the first report of Lord Laming, but little value in revisiting these given the impetus of the current arrangements.
· The elements needed to create a relentless and reliable system over time that safeguarded children, and the need for continued focus on the principle that the best life chances for children came from an upbringing in a loving family unit and therefore the Authority’s provision of support for that.
· Consideration that the arguments were not entirely persuasive for the appointment of an independent chair of the LSCB and there were disadvantages to this; but also recognition that the exposure of the Authority must be minimised. It was stated that there was value in the way Tower Hamlets undertook the safeguarding of children and that the professionals in the field sometimes needed to resist pressures from politicians in Government.
· The proposals for the training of Councillors were welcomed.
· Consideration that the proposed structures would result in the clear political oversight of safeguarding children found to be absent in the London Borough of Haringey.
· The importance of recruiting a skilled workforce in this field.
The Chair Moved the recommendations as set out in the report and it was: -
Resolved:
1. That the contents of the Tower Hamlets Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) annual report and business plan and outcomes arising from LSCB ‘stocktake’, be noted;
2. That the summary of Lord Laming’s report be noted;
3. That the appointment of an independent chair of the LSCB be agreed;
4. That it be noted that the appointment, referred to in resolution 3 above, will be made by the Director of Children’s Services after consultation with the Authority’s Board partners;
5. That it be agreed that the Authority should support appointment of an independent chair by the LSCB for any future serious case reviews;
6. That it be noted that a further report will be provided in relation to the full implementation of any changes arising from Government’s response to Lord Laming’s report. This will include proposals to support elected councillors in developing a greater understanding of the issues relating to safeguarding and their role and responsibilities in this area; and
7. That the outcome of the Ofsted evaluations of Serious Case Reviews undertaken in 2007/08, be noted;
Supporting documents:
- LSCB Report, item 8.2 PDF 97 KB
- LSCB Appendix 1, item 8.2 PDF 261 KB
- LSCB Appendix 2, item 8.2 PDF 725 KB